"The practical timing of that makes it impossible," Suns President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Welts said. "Beyond that, it's going to be as soon as the right candidate is identified."

He notes the Suns' history is a draw as the team has the NBA's third best winning percentage since 2004 and the fourth best all-time winning percentage.

"It seems like that's the type of organization you'd want to be a part of," Welts said.

There is the usual availability of past GMs, but that experience merits a higher salary. That is not the direction any insiders figure the Suns will go.

San Antonio assistant GM Dennis Lindsey, who turned down the Minnesota GM job last year, is known to be a person of interest. There are other up-and-coming front-office executives, such as Los Angeles Lakers assistant GM Ronnie Lester and new Minnesota assistant GM Tony Ronzone, who also could be considered.

Ronzone lives in the Valley and worked in scouting and basketball operations with Detroit from 2001 until his hire with Minnesota last month. Denver Vice President of Player Personnel Rex Chapman, a former Suns director of basketball operations under Sarver, also has kept the Valley as his home. He is best friends with Steve Nash, who said he would not have considered signing with Phoenix in 2004 if it was not for Chapman.

Another local-tie possibility is Phoenix native Dave Babcock, the Milwaukee director of player personnel.

Suns Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin won't be selected. He told Sarver he would not be a candidate and would not stay with the organization after his contract expires in two weeks. He is not expected to return to the Suns after working for them for 18 years.

Free throws

About 80 percent of Suns season-ticket holders renewed for next season before the playoff run, according to Welts. The Suns added 1,200 new season-ticket holders, which was more attributable to playoff success.